Brockton man indicted in death of his disabled friend

A 44-year-old man was indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and assault and battery upon an elderly person with a disability.

Cody Shepard The Enterprise @cshepard_ENT

BROCKTON — A city man was indicted Tuesday on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of his friend, a disabled 64-year-old man, that was caught on video, officials said.

Robert Thomas Curtis, 44, was indicted by a grand jury on one count each of involuntary manslaughter and assault and battery upon an elderly person with a disability.

Prosecutors say Ralph V. Lawcewicz was assaulted on Dec. 26, but it wasn't until days later that police had any reason to believe his death was suspicious.

Curtis turned himself in to Brockton police in early January after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Charges were filed after police learned there was video showing an altercation between Curtis and Lawcewicz.

During Curtis' arraignment in Brockton District Court in January, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague said Lawcewicz and a friend were at his Lawton Avenue home when Curtis, a longtime friend of Lawcewicz, showed up.

Curtis appeared to be heavily intoxicated and fell down inside the home, Sprague said. When he got back up, prosecutors say he was aggressive and threatened to hit someone.

Lawcewicz asked Curtis to leave his home, but he refused. A verbal altercation then took place. That's when prosecutors say the third man started recording the incident on his phone.

"This part of the confrontation was recorded," Sprague said. "He stated to the police it appeared that something was going to happen, so he took out his cell phone and began recording. It shows the defendant violently and aggressively push Mr. Lawcewicz down."

Sprague said the witness wasn't sure if Curtis was hitting or shaking the victim while he was on the floor, but the medical examiner did not find any signs of trauma. Lawcewicz appeared to be "gurgling, in distress and grabbing at the throat," Sprague said.

Lawcewicz was rushed to Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, where he died the next morning – on his 64th birthday.

The medical examiner's office ruled the death to be a homicide, Sprague said.

Sprague said Curtis later admitted to police that he was aware Lawcewicz, his friend of about 30 years, had serious cardiac issues. The victim had a pacemaker in his heart and was previously diagnosed with paralysis from a stroke.

Curtis is being held on high bail on the case. Bail was set at $100,000 on the manslaughter charge in District Court, but his bail was revoked at the time on an open case.

Curtis will be arraigned in Brockton Superior Court later.

The case is being prosecuted by Sprague and Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham and was investigated by Brockton police and state police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County district attorney's office.